Web Site Connects Civilians With Soldiers Overseas

By LAUREN ELKIES, Staff Reporter of the Sun
October 27, 2005

In early September, Reva Ross stumbled onto the Web site www.anysoldier.com, which connects soldiers, who may be lonely while stationed abroad with civilians, without the hassle of a middleman. After perusing the site and reading entries, she felt compelled to help in some way, so she ordered 10 two-ounce packs of beef jerky and sent them to soldiers in Iraq.

"No matter what you feel about the war these are our United States soldiers," Ms. Ross, 51, of the Upper East Side, said. "I think it's important to let them know that we know they are in harm's way."

Soon after, a childhood friend, Roslyn Tucker, paid a visit to Ms. Ross, from Portland, Ore., and purchased about $100 worth of goodies for the soldiers. Ms. Ross handled the shipment. "I was helping my friend because I thought the cause was good," Ms. Tucker, 50, said.

On October 17, Ms. Ross received confirmation for receipt of the second box of goods in a letter from a 19-year-old man who has been in Iraq since January 15. He wrote, "The first thing that caught my eye was the popsicles. Hooaah. ... I just wanted to say that I appreciate what you did cause you didn't have to do that. ... Holler back. Would like to hear from you again. Much Love, Spc. Terrell Groves."

The letter was a pleasant surprise for Ms. Ross. "I was not expecting this at all." The Web site warns readers: "DO NOT expect, or require, a reply from a soldier. DO NOT use this program if you expect or require a reply."

Any Soldier Incorporated is a non-politically-affiliated nonprofit organization that allows civilians to learn what soldiers need and want - through a soldier contact in the unit - and then purchase and send the items themselves.

One www.anysoldier.com contact, Sergeant First Class James Kevin Kelly, 36, was told that if he had soldiers in his platoon that were not receiving much correspondence, he could go to the site and find people to adopt soldiers and send them goods. "I have plenty of family and friends that sent me stuff, but wanted to give something to the soldiers," Mr. Kelly wrote in an email from Iraq. "I plan on adopting soldiers when I get home and doing something that people did for us over here."

The organization is the brainchild of Martin and Suzanne Horn, of La Plata, Md. In 2003, their son Brian Horn was a sniper team leader in Iraq and Mr. and Mrs. Horn started sending packages to Brian, with the message "Attn: Any Soldier," and their son would distribute the goods to the soldiers who were not receiving mail. "So we started pouring out as much support as we could," Mr. Horn, 53, a retired military policeman, said. The couple launched the Web site for family and friends to send necessities to the unit.

In January 2004, the efforts mushroomed to include any soldier "in harm's way," the Web site says. In the last two years, there have been more than 10,000 contacts that have received and distributed goods to units in 12 countries. "We have personally affected half the deployed force," Mr. Horn said. Brian, who is now in Afghanistan, still serves as a contact.

Supported by donation only, Mr. Horn sees no specific termination date for the site. "As long as there's a need, we'll be doing this," he said.